urn:taro:tslac.50108Interior Photographs:An Inventory of the Texas State Capitol Interior Photograph Collection at the Texas
State Archives, 1909-1915, bulk 1910 Finding aid by Halley GroganThis EAD finding aid was created in cooperation with Texas Archival
Resources Online.Texas State Library and Archives Commission October 2013Finding aid encoded by Halley Grogan in EAD Version 2002 as part of the TARO project,
June 2013.Finding aid written in English.Description based on DACS.
Overview
Texas State ArchivesTexas State Capitol interior photograph
collection1909-1915bulk 1910The Texas State Capitol interior photograph
collection consists of 41 glass plate negatives along with 69 photographs and copy
prints of the offices and basement areas of the State Capitol building, created
between 1909 and 1915 by an unknown photographer, with most created in
1910.These materials are written predominately in English.0.5 cubic ft.
Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room.
Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).

Technical Requirements

Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing
photographic materials.

Collection History

The current Texas State Capitol building was designed by architect Elijah E. Myers, architect
of the Michigan and Colorado capitol buildings, after he won a nationwide design
competition for the project in 1881. Plans were already being made for this new
building when the old Capitol burned to the ground in November 1881. Construction on
the new building began in February 1882. The exterior is made of granite and when
the building was finished, it measured over 310 feet in height, had 392 rooms, 924
windows and 404 doors. It took over 1,000 people, including engineers, contractors,
laborers and craftsmen, seven years to build. In February 1888, the Goddess of
Liberty statue was placed on the dome. The Capitol opened to the public on San
Jacinto Day, April 21, 1888.

After a fire badly damaged the east wing of the Capitol in February 1983, the legislature
formed the State Preservation Board to care for and maintain the building. The
building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and
recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

(Sources include: William Elton Green, "Capitol," Handbook of Texas Online, accessed June 20, 2013.
Published by the Texas State Historical Association.)

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Texas State Capitol interior photograph collection consists of 41 glass plate negatives
along with 69 photographs and copy prints of the offices and basement areas of the
State Capitol building, created between 1909 and 1915 by an unknown photographer,
with most created in 1910. The offices that appear in the photographs include the
Adjutant General's office, the Comptroller's office, the Court of Civil Appeals, the
Court of Criminal Appeals, the Governor's business office, the Railroad Commission
room, the Secretary of State's office, and the Treasurer's office. Additional views
include that of the State Library reading room, the print shop and rooms in the
basement where papers and books were stored in haphazard disorder and disrepair. The
majority of the images are of staff at work, including Assistant Adjutant General
Colonel Edwin M. Phelps, Judge William M. McKinney, Judge John A. Martin, Judge
Felix J. McCord, Judge William F. Ramsey and Judge William L. Davidson.

Images from the collection will be added to the forthcoming prints and photographs database, which will soon be available on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission website.

Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is arranged most likely in the order in which it was first received. The
numbered sequence of the prints has been maintained. Copy prints have been made from
the original glass plate negatives and are housed with the corresponding original
photograph. The glass plate negatives themselves are restricted. Please contact
archives reference staff for further information and assistance.

Index Terms

The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The
terms can be used to find similar or related records.